In the USA, protests again due to police actions: violent actions took place in major cities

Mass protests, provoked by the injury of a 29-year-old African American by police, swept Chicago (Illinois), Portland (Oregon), and Madison (Wisconsin). In the town of Kenosha, where the incident occurred on Sunday, August 23, active clashes with the police continued. Writes about it with the BBC.

Photo: Shutterstock

In connection with the growing tension, units of the National Guard were sent to Kenosha. This decision was made by the Governor of Wisconsin Democrat Tony Evers. He also scheduled an extraordinary session of the state legislature for August 31. The event will be dedicated to the adoption of a package of laws that will increase the accountability and transparency of police work.

The victim at the hands of the police - 29-year-old Jacob Blake from a bullet wound underwent surgery, he is recovering. The surgery was performed at a leading hospital in Milwaukee.

Angry protests erupted in the city of #kenosha after #Wisconsin cops shot an unarmed black man in the back multiple times.
Jacob Blake, 29, is in a serious condition in hospital. pic.twitter.com/TgNXaMxBvp

- th1an1 (@ th1an1) August 24

What's happening in Wisconsin

Riots and rallies are gaining momentum. The center of confrontation is Kenosha - a town with a population of 100 thousand people, located on the shores of Lake Michigan. This settlement was once the center of automobile production.

Outraged people took to the streets of Kenoshi on Sunday, August 23, when 29-year-old African American boy Jacob Blake was taken to intensive care in serious condition due to a bullet wound. A policeman shot him.

On the subject: US Protests: Violent Clashes Erupt in Portland and Other Cities

According to law enforcement officers, Blake, as a security guard in a private firm, was involved in a conflict that arose against the background of domestic violence. According to the lawyer of the Blake family, the guy was only trying to separate the two women fighting in anger.

A video, filmed by an eyewitness, appeared on the network, where it is clearly visible how the police opened fire in the back of Blake, who was trying to get into the car. On the recording, a volley of seven shots is heard. What exactly caused the shooting is still unknown, because the weapon was not visible in Jacob's presence.

Initially, several hundred people took to the streets of Kenosha to protest against the actions of law enforcement officers. They staged a march to the city police headquarters, picked up posters and chanted "We will not retreat!" On the way, demonstrators burned parked cars and threw Molotov cocktails at the police.

In connection with the aggressive behavior of the protesters, a curfew was introduced in Kenosha - from 22:00 to 07:00 in the morning. However, this only increased the resistance.

BBC correspondent Alim Makbul personally witnessed mass clashes between citizens and the police. He talked about burnt cars and streets with lanterns blown down and windows of buildings broken. The uniformed men used tear gas and noise grenades, he said. Even late at night, the aggressive crowd continued to confront the police.

“This is a breath of fresh air,” one young protester told the BBC. “I’m tired of being afraid that the police will kill me.” Today they will have to hear us.”

Looting and vandalism in #kenosha ... Small businesses in the area and being broken into #Wisconsin pic.twitter.com/JkscjRBHxN

- Jorge Ventura Media (@VenturaReport) August 25

The Governor of Wisconsin has publicly denounced the use of firearms against Jacob.

“Jacob Blake was shot multiple times in the back, in broad daylight. While we don’t know all the details yet, we do know that he is not the first black man to be shot, wounded, or mercilessly killed by law enforcement in our state or country,” Tony Evers concluded.

However, the head of the Kenosha police union, Pete Dietes, countered Evers, calling the governor’s words “irresponsible.” He urged people to refrain from making judgments until the situation is completely clear and all the circumstances are clarified.

On the subject: 10 most devastating riots in US history

Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers dispatched a small National Guard squad at the request of local Kenoshi officials. The National Guard is a reserve force of civilians who have received military training. Such groups are subordinate to state governors as well as the president.

Evers said law enforcement groups are focused on protecting infrastructure and the city's citizens' right to peaceful protest, guaranteed by the Constitution.

Wisconsin authorities have launched an investigation into the police officers who opened fire on the African American. The suspects were suspended from duty.

What is known about the Sunday incident

According to Kenoshi's law enforcement agencies, the police came to call for domestic violence. Local media write that neighbors saw injured Jacob Blake trying to separate the angry fighting women.

This version is also shared by the Blake family lawyer, activist defending the rights of African Americans - Benjamin Crump.

Unfortunately, the video of eyewitnesses that appeared on the network does not show the moment from which the conflict began. The author of the video - Ration White reports that he noticed the police who fought with Blake, and therefore began to record the video. According to him, law enforcement officers beat a black man and used a stun gun against him.

The video begins with a man in a white T-shirt and black shorts walking towards the jeep, followed by several police officers. One of them is aiming at the guy.

When the 29-year-old tried to get into the car, a police officer grabs his shirt. This was followed by shots of the man in the back. Judging by the sounds, there were at least seven of them, they merged with the screams of others.

According to Blake's friend Lakisha Booker, there were three of their children in the car at that moment, who witnessed the shooting on their father.

“The cop shot their dad in front of them. They will be forever traumatized,” said Blake family lawyer Crump. It is worth noting that he also represents the family of George Floyd, who was killed while in police custody in Minnesota.

The police confirmed that there was a shooting involving the police, but no one gave details. They also reported that the wounded Blake was immediately treated and taken to a Milwaukee clinic.

The Wisconsin Justice Department opened an investigation into the case, promising to collect and transmit all the necessary information to the prosecutor's office within 30 days.

A petition was also drawn up demanding criminal charges be brought against law enforcement officers. She has collected tens of thousands of signatures online. Despite the seriousness of the situation, the district attorney said that such decisions should not be made in a hurry.

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden called on local authorities to promptly, fully and transparently investigate the case. He said that all the circumstances of the shooting should be made public and that those responsible should be brought to justice.

“This morning, the country wakes up again with sadness and anger that another Black American has been the victim of excessive force,” Biden said, emphasizing that Blake was shot in the back.

“These shots pierce the soul of our nation,” he concluded.

Others from the Democratic Party, from senators to prosecutors, also spoke out in support of Blake.

“Jacob Blake, the entire country is praying for you,” Joe Kennedy III, the grandson of senator and presidential candidate Robert Kennedy, posted a statement on Twitter.

Truck fires set in #kenosha by rioters
Another night of rioters doing whatever they want.
This time in Kenosha #Wisconsin.

pic.twitter.com/STXqanexdn

- Jeremy Song (@ tezuma75) August 24

Kennedy, spokesman for Massachusetts' Third District, said that without clear action and reform, it will not be possible to stop the police riots, violence and racism that plague black Americans every day.

At the same time, the son of US President Donald Trump Jr. took the situation from a completely different angle: he pointed to the protests and riots in Wisconsin as an argument in favor of his father in the upcoming presidential election.

“The choice is yours: whether you want to see this in your backyard or not,” Trump Jr. tweeted.

He called the rallies anarchy and posted a video of the building on fire, apparently set on fire by protesters.

As ForumDaily wrote earlier:

• Since the end of May, fierce protests have raged in the United States over the murder of a black man by the police. On May 27, George Floyd, an African American from Minneapolis, died after a city police officer strangled him with a knee. Officer Derek Chauvin was fired and charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter; three other officers also lost their jobs. Protests and riots subsequently eruptedand in Minneapolis and across the country. As a result of all police officers involved in the death of George Floyd arrested. They face up to 40 years in prison.
• May 31 truck drove into a crowd of protesters in Minneapolis (Minnesota). At the wheel of a car was a citizen of the United States, presumably of Ukrainian origin, Bogdan Vechirko. He was arrested, but on June 2 he was released from custody awaiting further investigation. Eventually no charges were brought against him.
• About 40 cities, including Los Angeles, Miami, Detroit, and Philadelphia, banned street demonstrations for several days after dark. Texas and Virginia Governors introduced a state of emergency.
• In connection with protests in US cities embassies of Ukraine and Russia asked their citizenslocated in the United States, keep order and avoid crowds as much as possible, as well as safety precautions.
• June 1, Donald Trump enacted the law of 1807, allowing him send armed forces to shocked states in connection with the death of George Floyd.
• According to the official autopsy of George Floyd, his death was caused by mechanical asphyxia and should be considered violent.
• As of 4 June victims of mass protests in the United States, at least 11 people have become.
• More 10 people were arrested during protestscondemning racism and police brutality over the death of George Floyd.
• Atlanta June 12th cops killed African American: protests flared up with renewed vigor.
• In late July, several American cities increased protests that escalated into violence... Demonstrators clashed with federal agents outside a courthouse in Portland, Oregon, police were forced to retreat to the precinct in Seattle, Washington, and cars were set on fire in California and Virginia.
• Several states have declared a state of emergency due to increased violence during the protests.
• Mayors of six US cities demand from Congress to pass legislation prohibiting US President Donald Trump without their consent send additional police forces to the regions to quell riots.
• Russian speaking policeman from California talked about work during the protests.
• Boogaloo Boys, Proud Boys and Antifa: what groups are participating in the protests in the U.S..

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